Roof construction



June 4, 1940. s. TOWSLEY ROOF CONSTRUCTION Filed May 12, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

June 4, 1940. s. TOW SLEY ROOF cons'riwc'rzon Filed lay 12. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

INVENTOR.

Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to roof construction and more especially to that type of roof which is known as a saw-tooth roof. The invention is particularly concerned with certain improve- 5 ments in the framing of roofs of this type, as will appear'more fully hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide suitable framing for this type of roof which will entirely eliminate the necessity for costly truss work, while at the same time providing a ready means for inclining the glass or skylight surface at any desired angle in order to get the maximum reflection from the north sky without letting in the direct rays from the sun. In this way the roof can be readily adapted to meet the conditions demanded by different latitudes.

More specifically stated, it is an object of my invention to provide a roof of the character described and having the advantages just enumerated wherein the supporting posts or columns are disposed so as to extend to the peaks or ridges of the saw-tooth, and wherein the columns in any bent can be spaced longitudinally in any given row without the necessity for a corresponding spacing in an adjacent row or bent, so as to adapt the construction for any particular layout of machinery or equipment. In this Way I make my improved roof much less rigid in its limitations insofar as use of the building is concerned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which can be fabricated from standard rolled structural steel shapes and with which standard fastening or securing means may be employed.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a construction wherein the supporting columns or posts can be located in positions 40 away from the heel or gutters so as to permit recessing or lowering of the drainage gutter and a corresponding lowering of the sill of the sash, so as to give a greater glass area for a given building height.

45 How the foregoing objects, together with such other objects as may appear hereinafter or are incident to .my invention, are attained, is illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic View of a completed building embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a line diagram in perspective showing the skeleton framework used to support the roofing and glazing, the figure illustrating a building of three bays in the lateral and two bays in the longitudinal direction, although the invention, of course, is not to be limited to any particular size in either direction;

Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal elevation along a roof girder in order to illustrate certain details In the following description, the term longitudinal will be used to apply .to directions following the lines of the ridges and valleys, while the term lateral will be employed when designating directions at right angles thereto.

By referring to the drawings and particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that I have provided the posts or columns 6 which rise from the foundations and extend to the peaks of the saw-tooth roof. These columns may be either single or built-up shapes to fit the needs or demands of the roof in question. The columns are arranged in parallel longitudinally extending rows, and along the top of each row I provide a longitudinal girder 1, and the girders also may be of either single or built-up section, proportioned and reinforced, if necessary, to take both vertical and horizontal strains so as to meet the demands of the individual roof under construction. The structure is braced in the longitudinal direction by suitable knee braces 8.

The roof rafters 9 extendfrom. one side of a. ridge girder lvdownwardly toward the adjacent row of columns, the lower end of each rafter being supported by a tension member H], the upper ends of which tension members are carried from the adjacent roof girder on the adjacent row of columns, all as clearly indicated in the figures. These tension members serve the dual purpose of supporting the lower ends of the rafters and also ofcarrying the inclined glass 4 and framing therefor. The rafters and tension members may be of whatever size and shape is necessary to carry the loads for the roof in question, and the tension members should preferably be made as small as possible in order to obstruct as little light as possible. At the low side of the building the rafters are supported on a suitable girder and the short columns 6a.

In order to provide for rigidity in the lateral direction, certain of the rafters 9 are extended at their lower ends 9a sufficiently far to reach the adjacent column 6 to which they can be attached. In addition, at these columns I prefer to employ the diagonal bracing struts H which extend from the column 8 upwardly to substantially'the center portions of the adjacent rafters 9, all as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4. This bracing in a lateral direction can be employed at every column if desired or at certain of the columns only, if the loads to be taken care of do not demand bracing at every column.

The opaque roof construction I 2 is carried on the rafters 9, and in the heels of the roof are located the gutters l3.

It will be seen that my improved construction provides a very simple method for altering the inclination of the skylight, all that it is necessary to do being to increase or diminish the length of the rafters and then cutting the tension members to correspond. The tension members can be made of the smallest possible cross sectional dimension, which naturally admits of the use of the greatest possible area of glazing. cumbersome and costly truss work is entirely eliminated, and the roof may be fabricated from standard rolled structural steel shapes which may be secured together with standard methods of fastening. Furthermore, the columns can be spaced irregularly in each longitudinal rowand without the necessity for a corresponding spacing in the adjacent row. This feature makes it possible to adapt the construction to any particular layout with the least possible interference with the uses to which the building is to be put.

Another marked advantage incident to my improved construction arises by virtue of the fact that there are no columns or other supporting means at the heels or gutters, so that the drainage gutters and the sills of the sashes can be lowered to give a greater area of glass for a given height of building. The construction is exceedingly simple and can be built at a minimum cost.

I claim:

l. A saw-tooth roof construction comprising rows of vertical supporting columns, a ridge girder carried by each row, rafters one end of each ofwhich is carried upon a ridge girder, and tension member supporting the other ends of said rafters from the adjacent ridge girder.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein certainof said rafters have their lower ends extended laterally to the adjacent column.

3. The construction of claim 1 wherein certain of said rafters have their lower ends ex-.

. IRVING s. TOWSLEY. 

